Partsacaster neck problem

cdhopkin · January 19th, 2008, 03:42 PM

Hi,

I've been putting together an Esquire based around a Lite Ash tele body and a 21 fret MIM tele neck. When I strung the guitar up the strings were catching on the top most fret. Jacking up the action and shimming the neck made no difference.

I've got a Squier 51 so I swapped the necks. Even tho the '51 neck is fine on the '51, I get the same problem on the tele, even shimmed.

Is it a problem with the body or am I just going nuts?

woodman · January 19th, 2008, 03:44 PM

have you checked your truss rod? could it need some relief?

cdhopkin · January 19th, 2008, 03:54 PM

It's fine when it's on the '51 with the same strings (11s) so I think the relief is fine...I'll check it tho

0le FUZZY · January 19th, 2008, 05:10 PM

...Yew may knead tew dew a front shim rather than a back won.

...I haff hadd tew dew this onna number of Teles.

...Jes place a small shim unner the neck at the front of the neck pocket.

0le FUZZY

cdhopkin · January 19th, 2008, 05:20 PM

Hi Fuzzy,

I was wondering if I need to do that. I was looking at the neck and it looks like it's pitching backwards like a gibson neck so I'm guessing the strings are catching on the top fret. Will shim it tomorrow morning and see if that improves things!

boris bubbanov · January 19th, 2008, 06:05 PM

Sounds like that Lite Ash body has a shallower than usual neck pocket, one that might not be in specs.

If the action is all the way up and you can't get any play at all, and the neck is vetted because we know it plays fine on your Squier 51 as does the 51s own neck, we can safely assume the issue is with that pocket.

I don't know what tools you have at your disposal to measure, sounds like at the very least you have some paint buildup or debris in that pocket, possibly right around the back corners of the pocket. The front shims will get you playing but I see it as a diagnostic tool, you really need to get that neck bedded down, especially on a Esquire.

Bubbanov

cdhopkin · January 20th, 2008, 11:33 AM

Hi Guys,

Problem solved...Boris you were quite right. I scraped some dust out of the neck pocket and the '51 neck now fits properly and the strings aren't hitting the frets anymore. I was tearing my hair out with that one so it's a relief that it's sorted.

I'll be putting the MIM neck back on it sometime this week, finally drill my GFS custom plate and it'll be ready for photographs!

Chris

postjob62 · January 20th, 2008, 04:02 PM

Don't know if it matters in your case, but be aware that a Squier '51 neck is appx. .030" taller at the heel than a proper Tele neck, ~1.030" as opposed to 1.000.

To clarify where I'm talking about, when installed in the neck pocket it will be sitting .030" higher off the top of the body than a correct Std. Tele neck would.

cdhopkin · January 20th, 2008, 04:54 PM

Thanks! That's useful info to know...I just put it on there as a test...that would explain why I hate to lower the action on the bridge saddles when I fitted the MIM neck to the '51!

Rickey · January 21st, 2008, 10:38 AM

I had the same problem. Look at the heal stock of the neck. You'll see a slight discoloration where the neck sits in the body.
If the neck dosn't sit in your tele body, but fits perfect on the 51, then the neck pockets are different depths. You may have to rout the neck pocket so that it will sit in the pocket and match the discoloration line.
Most of the nerck pockets on the 51s are shallow. Measure your depth.
Good Luck
TeleMaster

January 19th, 2008, 03:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
cdhopkin Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pontypridd, South Wales Age: 30 Posts: 197	Partsacaster neck problem Hi, I've been putting together an Esquire based around a Lite Ash tele body and a 21 fret MIM tele neck. When I strung the guitar up the strings were catching on the top most fret. Jacking up the action and shimming the neck made no difference. I've got a Squier 51 so I swapped the necks. Even tho the '51 neck is fine on the '51, I get the same problem on the tele, even shimmed. Is it a problem with the body or am I just going nuts?

January 19th, 2008, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,670	have you checked your truss rod? could it need some relief? __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

January 20th, 2008, 04:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
postjob62 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 58 Posts: 473	Don't know if it matters in your case, but be aware that a Squier '51 neck is appx. .030" taller at the heel than a proper Tele neck, ~1.030" as opposed to 1.000. To clarify where I'm talking about, when installed in the neck pocket it will be sitting .030" higher off the top of the body than a correct Std. Tele neck would. __________________ You wore a diamond watch, claimed it was from Uncle Joe; Well, I looked at the inscription, it said "Love from Daddy-O" Last edited by postjob62 : January 20th, 2008 at 05:19 PM.

January 19th, 2008, 03:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
cdhopkin Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pontypridd, South Wales Age: 30 Posts: 197	It's fine when it's on the '51 with the same strings (11s) so I think the relief is fine...I'll check it tho

January 19th, 2008, 05:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	...Yew may knead tew dew a front shim rather than a back won. ...I haff hadd tew dew this onna number of Teles. ...Jes place a small shim unner the neck at the front of the neck pocket. 0le FUZZY

January 19th, 2008, 05:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
cdhopkin Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pontypridd, South Wales Age: 30 Posts: 197	Hi Fuzzy, I was wondering if I need to do that. I was looking at the neck and it looks like it's pitching backwards like a gibson neck so I'm guessing the strings are catching on the top fret. Will shim it tomorrow morning and see if that improves things!

January 19th, 2008, 06:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,144	Sounds like that Lite Ash body has a shallower than usual neck pocket, one that might not be in specs. If the action is all the way up and you can't get any play at all, and the neck is vetted because we know it plays fine on your Squier 51 as does the 51s own neck, we can safely assume the issue is with that pocket. I don't know what tools you have at your disposal to measure, sounds like at the very least you have some paint buildup or debris in that pocket, possibly right around the back corners of the pocket. The front shims will get you playing but I see it as a diagnostic tool, you really need to get that neck bedded down, especially on a Esquire. Bubbanov

January 20th, 2008, 11:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
cdhopkin Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pontypridd, South Wales Age: 30 Posts: 197	Hi Guys, Problem solved...Boris you were quite right. I scraped some dust out of the neck pocket and the '51 neck now fits properly and the strings aren't hitting the frets anymore. I was tearing my hair out with that one so it's a relief that it's sorted. I'll be putting the MIM neck back on it sometime this week, finally drill my GFS custom plate and it'll be ready for photographs! Chris

January 20th, 2008, 04:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
cdhopkin Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pontypridd, South Wales Age: 30 Posts: 197	Thanks! That's useful info to know...I just put it on there as a test...that would explain why I hate to lower the action on the bridge saddles when I fitted the MIM neck to the '51!

January 21st, 2008, 10:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
Rickey TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chico, CA. Age: 54 Posts: 37	I had the same problem. Look at the heal stock of the neck. You'll see a slight discoloration where the neck sits in the body. If the neck dosn't sit in your tele body, but fits perfect on the 51, then the neck pockets are different depths. You may have to rout the neck pocket so that it will sit in the pocket and match the discoloration line. Most of the nerck pockets on the 51s are shallow. Measure your depth. Good Luck TeleMaster